Asphalt dispenser



Jan. 4, 1966 w. P. GLADE 3,227,055

ASPHALT DISPENSER Filed Oct. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /7 I 75 m 706 l 1 "70 9; L2;

INVENTOR William P. Glade ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1966 w. P. GLADE 3,227,055

ASPHALT DISPENSER Filed Oct. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 William P. Glade "lliil BY M970 ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1966 w. P. GLADE 3,227,055

ASPHALT DISPENSER Filed Oct. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 (HI) 3-519 50 i I 79 I "I 87 6'0 l /d INVENTOR 77 William I? Glade BY zzflwa ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1966 w. P. GLADE ASPHALT DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 19, 1962 86 Fig 7 INVENTOR William F? Glade ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,227,055 ASPHALT DISPENSER William P. Glade, 6%2Sunset Drive, Wichita Falls, Tex. Filed on. 19, 1962, Ser. N9. 231,632 Claims. (Cl. 9d.--39) This inventionrelates to dispensing apparatus for hot asphalt or pitch, and it has particular reference to a machine for sealing or filling cracks and fractures in concrete or asphalt pavements, such as streets, roadways, floors, and the like, and it has especial adaptation to the dispensing of asphalt directly into and along a fracture in a pavement without spreading the material onto adjacent areas to deface and mar the appearance of an otherwise unimpaired surface.

A prime object of the invention resides in the provision of a portable dispensing unit which is capable of manipulation by a single workman, wherein the asphalt is, constantly heated to a desired consistency and dispensed in proper quantities while the machine is manually moved along the line of fracture, and whereby the asphalt material is deposited directly into the break and smoothed or troweled to surface level, thus providing a neat and effective seal against moisture and accumulated foreign substance which tend to undermine and disintegrate the pavement.

A further object of the invention is that of providing an asphalt distributing device by which a more effective sealing operation can be accomplished over conventional methods, and such operations can be performed with greater economy, requiring lesser labor costs, minimizing the amount of materials used, and reducing the time re quired for performing the operations in the use of conventional methods.

Concrete paving, due to var-ions conditions, often be.- comes fractured to form cracks of irregular patterns which are not easily followed and uniformly sealed by methods ordinarily employed for this purpose. It has become the custom, by contractors and road maintenance personnel, to utilize a spouted vessel for containing the hot asphalt, and distributing the material along the irregular fracture through the spout of the vessel which is carried by the. worker.

This method, while effective, does not always thoroughly fill the cleavage sufliciently to create an adequate seal, and generally results in spreading the asphalt over adjacent surfaces, leaving unsightly smears and streaks due to unstable handling of the vessel or to wind gusts which hamper the movements of the operator. More over, it is not possible, with the use of a hand ported container, to maintain the asphalt at its most effective temperatures and fluid conditions, thus resulting in an improper seal and in material waste.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a complete portable unit in which the asphalt material is heated to, and maintained at, temperatures best suited for flowability and sealing quality, and having means for accurately measuring and concentrating the flow whereby the material can be directed into the fracture, without spreading or spraying it over adjacent surfaces, and whereby the sealed surface is wiped to a smooth and even finish.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing the fuel tank, dispensing valve and hopper, and control devices therefor, and showing, in dotted lines, some of the internal parts,

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view illustrating the valve and hopper element, with the control devices on one side.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the invention showing the fuel tank, regulator, and dispensing valve andhopper.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view, on line 44 of FIGURE 3, showing the main housing, the asphalt vat internally of the housing, the fuel tank, temperature gauge,

and thermocouple extending into the vat.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the dis pensing hopper and its carriage, the flexible dispensing tube being shown in transverse section.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional View, on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, of the hopper carriage and lever for actuating the same. i

FIGURE 7 fragmentarily illustrates, in side elevation, the rear portion of the housing and shows the dispensing valve in vertical section, the hopper and its carriage being shown in elevation, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective illustnation of the asphalt vat and the perforated strainer enclosing the outlet, portions of the housing and strainer being broken away.

Accordingly, the invention primarily comprises a frame 10 having paired rear wheels 11, which are mounted between rigid brackets 12, and paired front caster wheels 13, as shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4. A housing 14 is mounted on the frame It and is preferably rectangular and having greater length than width. The housing 14, for convenience, may be located on one side of the frame 16, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, to accommodate an asphalt dispensing valve 15 supported on one side of the housing 14, which latter will be described in greater detail.

The frame Ill extends rearwardly, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 4, and has a platform 16 thereon in which is supported a tank 17 for butane gas, or similar fuel, for

heating the asphalt in a vat l8 enclosed within the housing 14, as shown in vertical section in FIGURE 4, and in dotted lines in FIGURES l and 2. A pair of upright members 19 are fixed to the rear corners of the frame It), and rearwardly from the housing 14, and extend upwardly above the latter, being connected across their upper ends by a tubular handle bar 26 by which the device is moved about by the operator. The bar 26 is extended beyond the right-hand upright member 19, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the purpose of which being to enable the operator to manipulate the apparatus while walking slightly to one side in order to observe the operation of the dispensing mechanism which will be presently described.

The vat 18 is dimensioned to be received within the housing 14 so that its walls are spaced inwardly from those of the housing 14 to define a space 21 therearound, as shown in FIGURE 4. The vat 18 is supported on a frame 22 secured to the bottom 23 of the housing 14 whereby to provide a compartment'24 for a burner 25 beneath the vat 18, as shown in cross-section in FIGURE 4 and in dotted lines in FIGURES l and 2.

Fuel from the tank 17 is supplied to the burner 25 through a conduit 26 which conducts the fuel through a regulator 27, fixed to a side of the tank I7, and a thermal control device (not shown) in a box 28 supported on one of the upright members 19, as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, and a conduit 29 which extends from the box 233 down through the platform 16 and beneath the floor 23 of the housing 14 to the burner 25. The fuel supply to the burner 25 is controlled by a thermocouple 3.6 which extends through a wall of the vat 18, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 8, and which is connected into the box 28 through a coupling 31.

The vat 18, shown in detail in FIGURE 8, has a radial flange 32 about its upper rim which has a depending lip 33 which overreaches the upper rim of the housing 14, as depicted in FIGURE 4, when the vat 18 is enclosed therein.

A cover 34 is provided for the housing 14 and the vat 18 and has a depending peripheral flange 35. A pair of handles 36 are provided for the cover 34-.

As best shown in FIGURE 8, the vat It; has an inclined bottom 37 to insure proper drainage toward the outlet tube 38 which is situated in one corner. The outlet 38 is enclosed in a perforated strainer 39, which is angular in transverse section, and is slidably received in a pair of keeper members 40 attached to the inner Walls of the vat 18 so that the strainer 39 can be removed for cleaning, as desired, in the manner indicated by the dotted arrows in FIGURE 8.

It is essential that asphalt must be maintained at relatively high temperatures for proper fiowability. In order to insure a suitable fluidity the thermal-control device (not shown) which is housed in the box 28 must be properly set to control the flow of fuel to the burner 25. A temperature gauge 41 is also provided which has its stem 42 extended into the vat 18, as shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4.

The hot asphalt is released from the vat 18 as desired through the valve 15 which is shown in longitudinal section in FIGURE 7. The material flows out of the vat 18 through the outlet 38 to which is connected an L-fitting 43 having a conventional cut-off valve 44 connected thereto which, in turn, is connected to a three-way fitting 45, one of whose ports 46 is open to the chamber 47 of the body 48 of the valve 15, as shown in FIGURE 7, which is arranged in a vertical plane and is internally threaded at its lower end to receive a fitting 49 having a length of tubing 50 attached thereto and extending downwardly into a dispensing pot 51.

A beveled seat 52 is formed internally of the valve body 48 at the lower end of an axial bore 53 which communicates at its upper end with the chamber 47 of the body 48. A valve closure element is arranged concentrically of the body 48, which latter may be rectangular in transverse section, and comprises a stem 54 having a ball 55 formed on its lower end. The stem 54 extends through a stuffing box 56, threaded into the upper end of the body 48, and having a packing 57 therein secured by a follower cap 58 formed with a stem guide Q which projects above the body 48 and embraces the stem 54.

A compression spring 6% is arranged on the upper portion of the stem 54, above the guide 59, and bears upwardly against a washer 61 on the stem 54 which engages the lower end of a bifurcated member 62 threaded on the upper end of the stem 54 whereby the ball closure element 55 is biased upwardly against its seat 52, as shown in FIG- URE 7. The stem 54 is reciprocably operated by a rod 63 which extends rearwardly of the apparatus and upwardly through one of the upright members 19 and is bent upwardly at its free end to provide a handle 64 conveniently located near the handle 20, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

The lower or forward end of the rod 63 is journaled in an angular bracket 65 welded or otherwise secured to the side of the housing 14, as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 7. A pin 66 is secured to the lower end of the rod 63, near the bracket 65, and extends at right-angles therefrom and between the legs of the bifurcated member 62 whereby, when the rod 63 is rotated clockwise, the valve stem 54 is depressed against the tension of the spring 60 to move the ball 55 from its seat to admit the hot asphalt to the dispensing cup 51, the spring 60 acting to close the valve when the handle 64 on the rod 63 is released. In this manner, the flow of the hot asphalt material can be accurately controlled. A key 67 traverses the bifurcation in the member 62 to retain the pin 66 therein.

Attached to a leg 68 of the fitting 45 by a nipple 69 is an L-fitting 70 which has a nipple 71 threaded in its outer leg 72 and a cap 73 is threaded on the nipple 71. This assembly provides means for cleaning out the valve assembly 15, when necessary, by introducing an asphalt solvent, such as kerosene, thereto. When it becomes necessary to dismantle the valve assembly 15 the valve 44 can be closed.

The dispensing cup 51 is preferably formed of cast iron and is substantially cup-shaped, having a reduced neck portion at its lower end, as shown particularly in FIGURES 6 and 7, about which is secured a circular boot 74 by a clamp 75. The boot 74 is formed of rubber, or other flexible material, and functions as a wiper by which the asphalt is wiped or troweled into the fracture as the apparatus is moved along. The boot 74 also confines the asphalt material and prevents its spreading beyond a predetermined marginal distance from the fracture.

The cup 51 is adjustably supported by a pin 76 formed integrally therewith and extending at right-angles from one side thereof near its top, as best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The pin 76 extends through a block 77 attached, as by welding, to the lowermost end of a tubular element 7 8 slidably arranged through a sleeve 7 9 which is attached to an angular bracket 39 secured by bolts 81 to the frame 10.

The sleeve 79 has opposing slots 82 formed in each side adapted to receive the opposite ends of a pin 83 arranged therethrough which has been passed through opposing apertures in the tubular element 78 whereby the latter is capable of limited longitudinal movement within the sleeve 79 but is incapable of rotation therein. A compression spring 34 is arranged about the lower end of the tubular element 78 and bears at each end against washers $5 and 86 respectively engaging the lowermost end of the sleeve 7? and the block 77 whereby the latter, with the cup 51, is biased downwardly so that the boot 7 t will slidably engage the surface of the fractured pavement.

The tubular element 73 is raised by a fork lever which is comprised of a pair of arms 87 attached at their inner ends to a block 83 secured by a set-screw 89 to a pin 9% which is journalled in a bearing block 91 secured by bolts 92 to the frame It), as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The arms 87 extend outwardly on each side of the tubular element 7 8 and are engaged by the projecting portions of a pin 93 arranged transversely through the tubular element 78, as best illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, so that when the arms 87 are raised the element 7 8 is moved upwardly against the tension of the spring 84 to raise the boot 74 from the surface of the pavement.

The pin 9%), to which the arms 87 are attached, is rotated by a rod 94 which extends rearwardly of the device and is rotatably supported in a block 95 attached by bolts 96 to the outside of one of the upright members 19 and terminates in a handle 97. The rod 94 is threaded at its lower end to a clevis 98 whose bifurcated end is pivotal ly attached through pins 99 to opposing sides of a block 1% to whose other opposing sides are connected by pins 101 to the bifurcated portion of a complementary member 102 connected to the end of the pin 94), as shown in FIG- URES 5 and 7, whereby to provide a universal coupling between the rod 94 and the arms 37.

In order to insure the free flow and proper temperature for the asphalt dispensed by the invention it is desirable to maintain a constant high temperature on the valve assembly 15, and a subsidiary burner 103 is provided for this purpose. The burner ms is supported on a bracket ltl l attached to the frame It rearwardly from the valve assembly 15, as shown in FIGURES l and 3, and fuel is supplied thereto through a conduit from the fuel tank 17. The fuel supply to the burner 103 may also be controlled through the automatic thermal control (not shown) in the box 28.

In operation, it is necessary, after the cold asphalt is deposited in the vat 18, to heat the same to a suitable temperature. The machine is then moved to the fracture to be sealed so that the boot 74 is directly thereover whereupon the boot 7 is lowered to engage the surface of the pavement and the valve assembly opened to dispense the heated asphalt through the cup 51 in the desired quantities. As the machine is moved along the fracture the material is dispensed thereinto and troweled or wiped to insure a proper seal.

The boot 74 will confine the asphalt to the fracture and prevent undue waste and unnecessary marking of the pavement. By reason of the caster wheels 13 the invention can be easily manipulated by a single operator. Indiscriminate dripping of the asphalt material can be prevented by proper manipulation of the control rods 63 and 94 to open and close the valve 15 and raise the dispensing cup 5'1.

The housing 14 is vented so that combusted gases from the burner 25 can escape to the atmosphere. A plurality of vent ports 106 are provided in a Wall of the housing 14, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 7.

The invention is obviously capable of certain changes and modifications from the structure herein shown and described without departing from the spirit and intent thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for sealing fractures in concrete pave ments an asphalt dispenser having, a wheeled frame, a housing on said frame, and a heating vat for containing asphalt in a fiuid state supported thereon, and means for heating said vat, the improvements comprising, a cupshaped asphalt dispensing pot carried by said frame and having a restricted outlet orifice, and a flow conduit connecting said dispensing pot with said vat, a normally closed valve in said flow conduit having means for manually opening the same to dispense fluid asphalt to said dispensing pot, a flexible boot surrounding the outlet orifice of said dispensing pot and extending therebelow to slidably engage a Working surface, yieldable means for biasing said boot against such working surface, and means comprising a lever having a linkage connected to said pot for raising and lowering said dispensing pot and said boat with respect to the surface of a. pavement.

2. in a machine for dispensing hot asphalt for sealing fractures in concrete pavements, having a wheeled frame, a housing on said frame, a removable asphalt vat supported in said housing, a burner in said housing for heating said vat, the improvements comprising, an open cup-shaped dispensing pot carried by said frame for asphalt from said vat and having an outlet orifice, a flow conduit for asphalt connecting said vat with said dispensing pot, a self-closing valve in said conduit and means for manually opening said valve, a flexible boot on said outlet orifice in said dispensing pot and surrounding said orifice for confining the fluid asphalt in a relatively narrow path, and means comprising a lever and linkage assembly on said frame for raising and lowering a housing thereon and an asphalt heating vat in said housing, and having means for manually propelling and guiding said device, the improvements comprising, in combination a cup-shaped dispensing pot carried by said frame and having an outlet orifice, a conduit connecting said vat with said pot and a normally closed valve in said conduit having manually operated means for opening the said valve, a boot on said pot embracing said outlet orifice therein and for engaging a working surface along a fracture therein whereby to confine fluid asphalt dispensed therethrough to a restricted path, and a lever assembly on said frame for adjusting said pot and said boot relative to the surface of a pavement.

4. In a hot asphalt dispensing device having a wheeled frame, a housing on said frame and a heated asphalt vat in said housing, in combination, a dispensing pot carried by said frame having a conduit providing communication with said vat, a normally open valve in said conduit having manual means for closing the same, the said pot having a restricted outlet orifice on its lower end and a flexible boot embracing said orifice and extending below said pot and engageable with a concrete pavement in operation, and means for adjusting said pot and said boot with respect to said pavement.

5. In apparatus for dispensing hot asphalt for sealing fractures in concrete pavements, the said apparatus having a Wheeled frame, a housing on said frame and a heated vat for asphalt in said housing, comprising, a cup shaped dispensing pot carried by said frame having a restricted outlet orifice and a tube depending into said pot providing communication with said vat, a normally closed valve in said tube having means for manually opening the same, a flexible boot embracing the outlet orifioe of said pot for confining the asphalt from said. pot to a relatively narrow path, and means for adjusting said pot and said boot with respect to a concrete pavement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,052,578 2/ 1913 Fitzgerald 94-39 1,086,796 2/1914 Tarrant 94-39 1,698,015 1/1929 Fitzgerald 94-39 1,750,104 3/1930 Heltzel 94-39 1,924,636 8/1933 Burket 94-39 2,074,756 3/1937 Poulter 94-39 2,420,410 5/ 1947 Blankner 94-39 2,530,777 11/ 1950 Middlestadt 94-39 2,578,080 12/ 1951 Middlestadt 94-39 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JACOB NACKENOFF, Examiner.

N. C. BY ERS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR SEALING FRACTURES IN CONCRETE PAVEMENTS AN ASPHALT DISPENSER HAVING, A WHEELED FRAME, A HOUSING ON SAID FRAME, AND A HEATING VAT FOR CONTAINING ASPHALT IN A FLUID STATE SUPPORTED THEREON, AND MEANS FOR HEATING SAID VAT, THE IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING, A CUPSHAPED ASPHALT DISPENSING POT CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND HAVING A RESTRICTED OUTLET ORIFICE, AND A FLOW CONDUIT CONNECTING SAID DISPENSING POT WITH SAID VAT, A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE IN SAID FLOW CONDUIT HAVING MEANS FOR MANUALLY OPENING THE SAME TO DISPENSE FLUID ASPHALT TO SAID DISPENSING POT, A FLEXIBLE BOOT SURROUNDING THE OUTER ORIFICE OF SAID DISPENSING POT AND EXTENDING THEREBELOW TO SLIDABLY ENGAGE A WORKING SURFACE, YIELDABLE MEANS FOR BIASING SAID BOOT AGAINST SUCH WORKING SURFACE, AND MEANS COMPRISING A LEVER HAVING A LINKAGE CONNECTED TO SAID POT FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID DISPENSING POT AND SAID BOAT WITH RESPECT TO THE SURFACE OF A PAVEMENT. 